Schedule/Presenters/Panelists

Conference Theme

‘Alien Life’: Diversity in the Universe

Keynotes

Keynote One: Carolyn Porco

Keynote Two: Martin Rees

Session One

Search for Life in our Solar System

Chairs: Penelope Boston, Chris McKay

Interest in the search for life in our own solar system has of recent focused on “Ocean Worlds” in the outer solar system, particularly Europa and Enceladus. Attention centers on Saturn’s moon Enceladus – where organic-rich water plumes jet into space. Such ocean material is potentially accessible to space probes. Jupiter’s moon Europa and other possible locations may also exhibit water ejections and may have evidence of life on their surface. Exotic chemistry may also enable life in other locations, such as Saturn’s moon Titan with its hydrocarbon lakes. What would a mission to these targets look like? What sensors would be carried on such a probe?

Session Two

Possibilities for Non-Terran Life in the Universe

Chairs: Svetlana Berdyugina, Lisa Kaltenegger

The possibility of earthlike life processes in exotic environments such as the hydrocarbon lakes on Titan raise the question of life based on alternate chemistry. The discovery of numerous Earth-size planets orbiting in the “habitable zones” of red dwarf stars such as Proxima Centauri and Trappist One could mean life there relies on alternate chemistries as the light spectrum and radiation environments are much different than on earth. Even further afield, some suggest “machine-based” intelligences could exist far from stars - could we detect such alien life? How can one search for alternate life’s presence – indeed, how does one define life itself?

Session Three

Progress in Novel Space Propulsion

Chairs: Sigrid Close, Zachary Manchester

To extend humanity’s reach beyond our solar system, novel means of propulsion are needed. Light-sails, directed-energy, and antimatter have all been proposed as ways of meeting the extreme challenges of interstellar travel. What is the ‘state of the art’ in space propulsion? How close are we to achieving the dream of traveling to our nearest neighboring stars within a human’s lifetime? Can these innovative propulsion technologies enable new means for the search for life in our solar system, or for non-Terran life in the Universe?

Yuri’s Night

An evening ‘Yuri’s Night’ event (Thursday, April 12) will be hosted by S. Pete Worden, Executive Director of the Breakthrough Initiatives. Location and details will be updated closer to event.

Internet

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